Internet fraud is prevalent in today’s cyber world. Protecting yourself against identity theft is important.

Some Helpful Tips for Protecting Yourself Against Internet Fraud

• Don’t believe promises of easy money.

• Know who you are dealing with.

• Understand the offer, because it may be from a legitimate seller.

• Don’t buy into the pressure. Legitimate companies will allow you time to make a decision.

• Look for the "unsubscribe from mailing list" feature in your email. Legitimate companies always allow you to unsubscribe from their mailing lists.

• Check and see who sent you the email. Anybody can create their own email account (e.g. name@mydomain.com).

• Beware of false websites that look like the real site. They are imposters.

• Know what you’re downloading.

• Legitimate companies will never take your credit card information over email.

• Pay only with trusted companies. Google Checkout and Paypal are both safe and trustworthy.

New Craigslist "Check This Video" Scam

There is a new scam floating around on Craigslist. The perpetrator uses "Check This Video" to see if the video matches what you're selling. Don't click to watch the video. Doing so may cause your PC to be infected with Spyware!

The perpetrator may use a message like, "I just want to make sure I am going to buy the same which I am looking for. I can't afford another mistake as i did in the past. Please check the video and confirm it's the same u have."

Posting Online

Whether you are posting on blogs, Twitter or Facebook, your identity can be at stake when you don’t follow the rules for posting online. The rules for posting online are as follows:

• Never post anything that you don’t want the world to see.

• Think before you post. Make sure you know what you are talking about. And don’t post anything that isn’t true. Always check your spelling and grammar!

• Be careful when using your full name, even your username can spell trouble.

• Keep your mailing address and email address private.

• Don’t give your phone number to the rest of the world.

• When posting comments on any website, follow rule #2 and don’t include anything that will link you to your identity or character.

• Don’t tell anyone about your planned movements, as this could let burglars know your home will be empty. Much worse can happen too.

Many scammers target senior citizens, maybe because they’re more trusting, more prosperous or just because they’re less tech savvy. Always know who you are dealing with!